War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History, Revised and UpdatedThe politics of the Middle East often seems complex to the point of mysteriousness. How can Americans decipher the latest diplomatic tilt, rumor of war, or threat to oil supplies? Where will the Middle East's centuries-old quest for self-determination lead? An Oxford professor of international relations finds the answers in a historical context that is often overlooked. With a special focus on the last half-century, he illuminates the four phases of external involvment--Ottoman, European, Superpower, and American--that have molded the political evolution of the Middle East. He assesses the past roles of Britain, France, and the former Soviet Union, clarifies how power and influence have shifted in the aftermath of the Cold War, and appraises both the recurrent myopia of the United States and the country's essential function as a mediatior. Shrewd, witty, and highly readable, this book offers invaluable insights for the student and general reader about one of the most volatile subsystems of international politics. --From cover. |
Other editions - View all
War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History, Revised and Updated Avi Shlaim Limited preview - 1995 |
War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History, Revised and Updated Avi Shlaim No preview available - 1995 |
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agreement allies Amer America American policy Arab world Arab-Israeli conflict Assad attack Baghdad Baker became Britain British Bush Carter claim Clinton coalition Cold Cold War commitment Declaration diplomatic dle East domination East policy economic Egypt evenhanded force foreign policy Gaza global globalists Golan Heights Gulf crisis Gulf war hostages interests invasion Iran-Iraq Iran-Iraq War Iran's Iranian Iraq Iraq's Iraqi Islamic Israel Israel-first Israeli Jerusalem Jewish Jews Jordan Jordanian King Hussein Kurds Kuwait leaders Lebanon Madrid ment Middle East military Nasser negotiations Nixon and Kissinger officials Ottoman Empire Palestine Palestinian peace process peace talks Persian Gulf political post-Ottoman syndrome postwar President radical Reagan administration regime region regionalists Resolution role rulers Sadat Saddam Hussein Saudi Arabia settlement shah Shamir Shiites Sinai Soviet Union status quo strategic Suez superpower Syria threat tion Transjordan treaty troops United victory Washington West Bank Western withdrawal World Order Yitzhak